Control device for pumping apparatus



s. J. MERRl/TI CONTROL DEVICE FOR PUMPING APPARATUS4 June 30, 1931.

Filed March 19, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l MEI! it ii' il "L June 30, 1931.

S. J. MERRITT CONTROL DEVICE FOR PUMPING APPARATUS Filed March 19. 19303 Sheets-Sheet 2 @115' l: lill! fi'ii" m :Hills lll ,/f IlI l June 30,1931. s. J. MERRITT 1,811,952

CONTROL DEVICE FOR PUMPING APPARATUS Filed March 19. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet5 D 5cl/yew@ Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED sTAiEsf-PATENT oFFllcs SAMUELJ. Munnrrfr, or CENTRAL crrr, KnN'rucKY' i coN'rnoL DEVICE nos rui/LENGArraita'rus Application filed March 19, 1930. VVSerial No. 437,157. v

,19 by the power required to start the pump is exceedingly smallcompared to that which would be required to start against a fulldischarge head. Y

A further obj ect is to provide means whereby the automaticallycontrolled pump can not be placed in operation until the discharge pipehas been drained.

More specifically, theinvention consists of an electrically driven pump,the circuit for o eratinU the um motor havin@ two P c P P D switchestherein, one of which is actuated by a float that is adapted to beraised andk lowered by the body of water on which the pump operates, andthe other of which is ,25 adapted to be opened and closed by meansoperated by water flowing through a drain pipe which communicates withthe discharge pipeof the pump. The pump is primarily designed for use inmines, the float operated switch being actuated by a float that israised and lowered as the water rises and recedes in thesump from whichthe water is to be removed. The other switch in the pump motor circuitis operatedby a plunger movable in the drain line from the dischargepipe of the pump. The pressure of the water iiowing through the drainline moves the plunger in one direction to open the switch, but in theabsence of water in the drain line,

0- the plunger is moved in the opposite direction, preferably by aIgravity actuatedweight, to close the switch. In other words, it isnecessary that the pressure on the plunger in the drain line be removedbeforethe switch in the pump motor circuit can be closed. The

apparatus also preferably comprises a chamber that communicates by acomparatively large pipe with the lowY or suction side of the pump, andby a comparatively small line with the high or discharge side of thepump.

lVorling in this chamber isa plunger that is connected with a valve thatcontrols the flow of water through the drain line of the discharge pipe.The plunger is also connected with the lever of the starting box, saidlever normally assuming Va position where a minimum amount of currentwill be delivered to the pump motor upon the closing ofthe float andplunger actuated'switches before referred to. When these switches areclosed, the ypump is placed in operation at its lowest speed, and bymeans of the comf muni'cation between the low side of the pump and saidchamber, a vacuum is created in said chamber and the plunger thereinreciprocated to close the valve in the drain line of the discharge pipeof the pump, and to actuate the control/lever of the starting boX togravd-l ually increase the current delivered to the pump motor, wherebythe speed of the pump is gradually accelerated. If desired, an automaticstarter embodying time control mechanism for increasing thespeed of thepump, may be utilized in lieu of the ordinary starting box, in whichevent the starting box and vthe connections betweenV the control leverthereof and the plungergin the vacuum cham ber may be dispensed with. l

.lVith these and other objects in view, the

invention cons-ists in certain details of construct-ion and combinationsand arrangements of pai-ts, all aswillbe hereinafter more fullydescribed and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out intheappended claims. ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l' is more or lessof a diagrammatical illustration of the apparatus embodying the presentimprovements, the parts being shown in the positions they occupywhen-the pump is in operation; Y 5 e y Y F ig. 2'is a similar View, withthe Vparts in the positions they assume upon the pump being renderedinoperative by the motor circuit being broken; f Fig. 3 is a detail Viewof the float control and plunger control switches of the motor circuit;and Y Y Fig. Il is view s-imil ar to Figure 1, illustrating the use ofan automatic time control starter, in lieu of the starting boxillustrated in Figure 1.

In the form of apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3, the suction pipe 10communicating with the low side of pump cylinder 11 is adapted to besubmerged in the body of water which accumulates in the sump 12. Thedischarge pipe 13 of the pump cylinder has a branch or drain line 14extending therefrom, this drain line terminating preferably above thesump. At a suitable location, there is a vacuum cylinder 15 open at oneend and closed at the other by a cap 16. The interior of this cylindercommunicates with suction pipe by a pipe 17 extending from the closedend of said cylinder, the passage in this pipe' being regulated by a.valve 18. Extending also from the closed end of the vacuum cylinder is apipe 19 considerably smaller than pipe 17. This smaller pipecommunicates with the discharge pipe 13. v The passage of water throughdrain pipe 14 is controlled by a valve 20 and the. end of said drainpipe is closed so that water draining therethrough must escape through aplurality ot openings 21 in said pipe a short distance above its closedend. Slidable in this perforated portion of the drain 14 is a. plunger22, and connected to said plunger is a chain or other iiexible element23 extending over pulleys 24 and having attached to its free end aweight 25. The chain 23 is adapted to actuate a switch blade 26 so Vasto make and break the pump motor circuit through the contact 27, 28, aswill be more fully described hereinafter. Sli dably mounted in thevacuum cylinder is a plunger 29, and said plunger is connected to alever 30 by sectional rod 31 having a turnbuclle 32 connectingitssections, whereby the throw imparted to lever 30 may be regulated asdesired. This lever, which actuates valve 2O in the drain pipe 14,

is provided with a series of apertures 33, any

one of which is adapted to receive the' pin by which said lever isconnected to rod 31. This connection affords additional means forregulating the throw imparted to said lever.

As illustrated in the drawings, one side 34 of the power line goes tothe pump motor not shown), and the other side 35 goes to a movablecontact. 36adapted to cooperate with fixed contact 37, from which line38 extends to contact member 28 and from contact 27 of switch 26 tostarting box 39. The lines 40, 40a, extending from the starting box 39to the pump motor, are also only patrially shown. The movable contactmember 36, just mentioned, is carried by an arm 41 pivoted intermediateits ends atV 42 and the ends of said arm are adapted to be engaged byprojec tions 43, 44, on a chain 45, that extends over pulleys 46, saidchain having attached to one of its ends a Weight 47 and to its otherend a float 48, whereby the chain may be caused to travel over pulleys46 by the float being raised and lowered, as the water in sump 12 risesand recedes.

Rod 3l of plunger 29 is also connected by a spring 49, rod 50,turnbuckle 51, chain 52 that extends over pulley 53, and an insulatedarm 54 to the opera-ting lever 55A of starting box 39, said arm beingconnected to the lever 55 by a pin that may be inserted in any one of aseries or' apertures 56 in said lever, whereby the throw imparted tothis lever may be regulated.l lVhen the pump is idle, operating' lever55 of starting box 39 is on the lirst Contact of the box, as shown inFig. 2, so that a minimum amount of current will be delivered to thepump motor when contacts 36, 37, are closed, and blade 26 moved intoengagement with contact 27. In Fig. 2, the level of the water in thesump is shown at its lower level, and switch blade 26 is shown in openposition, and plunger 22 is positioned in the lower end of the drainpipe below the openings 21. lith parts in these positions, and it beingassumed that valve 2O is open, and water is still draining through thedrain pipe 14, the pressure of the water onplunger 22 will hold it downand prevent weight 25 moving blade 26 into engagement with contact 27.After water has c-eased to flow through drain pipe 14, plunger 22 isfree to rise, whereuponl weight 25 will move downwardly by gravity andraise blade 26 into engagement with contact 27. This, of course, onlypartially closes the pump motor circuit, it being necessary for thewater to rise to the level shown in Figure 1, this raising ot the waterin the sump raising lloat 48, whereby projection 43 on chain 45 rocksarm 41 and moves contact 36 into engagement with Contact 37, therebyclosing the circuit of the pump motor. Under the circumstances justdescribed, a minimum quantity of current will be supplied to the pumpmotor, but this is suiiticient to start the motor and pump, dueto thefact that thedischarge head has been previously totally relieved throughthe drain line 14. The pump being placed in operatiomthe connectionbetween the low side of the `pump and the vacuum cylinder, i. e., pipe17, creates a vacuum in the closed end of thecylinder, so that plunger29 and rod 31 are moved longitudinally of the cylinder. This movement ofthe plunger and rod actuates lever 30 to close valve 20, and. at thesame time, lactuates control lever 55 of the starting box to graduallyincrease the current supplied the pump motor, and consequently,accelerate the speedof the pump until the operating lever hasassumed theposition shown in Figure 1, at which time the maximum amount ot currentwill be delivered to the motor. Due to the fact that blade 26 can not bemoved into engagement with contact 27 until the water pressure onplunger 22 is relieved to the predetermined extent, it will be seen thatit is impossible for the pump to be placed in operation until thedischarge head on the pump is relieved to the desired extent.

The vacuum will be maintained in the cylinder 15 during the operation ofthe pump, but after the level of the water in the sump has fallen to thepoint shown in Fig. 2, chain will have moved in a reverse direction toan extent suflicient to bring projection 44 into engagement with arm 41,so as to disengage contact 36 from contact 37, thus breaking the circuitto the pump motor. The motor and pump being rendered inoperable, thevacuum in cylinder 15 is relieved so that plunger 29 is retracted andlever 30 actuated to open the valve 2O in the drain pipe 14. At the sametime, the control lever of the starting box also returns to its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 2. The retractive movement of plunger 29 isfacilitated by the pressure in the discharge pipe 13 acting on theplunger through pipe 19.

Vhere an automatic time control starter is utilized, as shown in Fig. 4,power line 34 goes to the motor while the power line 35 goes to terminal71 of starter 70. Termi nal 72 of the starter goes to contact 36 of thefloat control switch, and terminal 73 runs to contact 27 of switch 26,while the other terminals, 74, 75, have leads which run to the motor.Automatic starters of the type mentioned are common in the art, so thata showing or detailed description thereof is unnecessary, and it has,therefore, simply been illustrated diagrammatically. The remain` ingoperating connections for the pump are the same as in the apparatusshown in Figures 1 to 3, except that spring 49, rod 50, turnbuckle 51,chain 52, pulley 53, arm 54, the starting box 39with its control lever55, and the leads 40, 40a, are dispensed with. In other words, theautomatic time control starter functions to accelerate the speed of thepump in lieu of increasing the speed thereof by gradually decreasingresistance inv the motor line, as is done with the automati.

cally moving control lever of the starting box.

What I claim is:

1. In a pump control mechanism, a pump having an intake pipe and adischarge pipe, a motor for said pump, an electrical circuit includingsaid motor, a drain pipe communicating with said discharge pipe, meansrendered operative by operation of the pump to close said drain pipe,and means operative by water flowing through said drain pipe forbreaking the motor circuit whereby operation of said motor can not beinitiated while water is draining through the drain pipe.

2. In a pump control mechanism, the combination of a suction pipe, apump operatively associated with said pipe, a pump motor, an electricalcircuit including said pump motor, a drainage pipe communicating withthe discharge of said pumpfa valve for said drain pipe, means forclosing said drain an electrical circuit including said pump, a

drainage pipe communicating with the discharge of said pump, a valve forsaid drain pipe, means for closing said drainpipe when said circuit is.closed and opening said pipe when thecircuit is open, a switch inthemotor circuit, av plunger operable by water flowing through said drainpipe, and connections be-V tween said Vplunger Aand switch for holdingsaid switch open during'- flow of water through the drain pipe.

4. In a pump control mechanism, the combination of a pump, a motor forthe pump, an electrical circuit including the pump, a switch in saidcircuit, means in the discharge conduit ofthe pump operable by backpressure in said conduit when the pump is idle to open said switch, avalve in said conduit between the pump and said switch operating means,means for closing said switch in the absence of back pressure in saidconduit, and means operable by the pump for closing said valve.

5. In a pump control mechanism, the combination of a pump, a motor, anelectrical circuit including said motor, float controlled means forclosing said circuit, a drain line for the discharge side of the pump, avalve in said drain line, a vacuum chamber, means for creating a vacuumin said chamber when the pumpV is in operation, a reciprocatory plungerin said chamber, and connections between l said plunger andV valve forclosing the latter when a vacuum is created in said chamber.

6. In a pump control mechanism, the combination of a pump, a motor, anelectrical circuit including said motor, ioat controlled means forclosing saidA circuit, a drain line for the discharge side of the pump,a valve in said drain line, a vacuum chamber, means for creating avacuum in said chamber when the pump is in operation, a reciprocatoryplunger in said chamber, and connections between said plunger and valvefor closing the latter when a vacuum is created in said chamber, andmeans o-perable by movement of said plunger for accelerating said pumpmotor.

7 Ina pump control mechanism, the combination of a pump adapted to haveits intake pipe submerged in abody of water, a motor for said pump, yandelectrical circuit including said motor, a pair of switches in saidcircuit, means operab-le by back pressure in the discharge conduit ofthe pump for opening one of said switches, and means for closing saidswitch in absence of said back pressure, the other'switch beingcontrolled by a float adapted to rise and fall with the level of saidbody of Water.

8. In a pump control mechanism, the comil bination of a pump, a motor,an electrical circuit includingsaid motor, a drain pipe connected to thedischarge conduit of the pump, a Valve in said drain, a cylinder open atone end and closed at its opposite end, a pipe connecting said closedend of the cylinder with said discharge condiut, a second pipeconnecting said cylinder end With the pump intake, a valve in the lastmentioned pipe, a plunger slidable in said cylinder and connectionsbetween said plunger and drain pipe Valve for closing the latter Whenthe pump is 'operated and opening the same when said pump is idle..

' SAMUEL J. MERE-ITT.

